Friday, July 20, 2007

Cigar Man and SAIAT

Tucson, Arizona. While the fat lady has yet to sing, and it is too early to return to the graveyard and post a tombstone, she has taken the stage and stepped up to the mike. Your humble blogger has learned "the number" for SAIAT. Those having read Something Else know that TREO brutally slashed the workforce training institute's funding from $242,500 to $110,000 last year, inflicting massive financial losses.

I had hoped, seeing the losses, that the terrible TREO (Snell, Smith, and Mouch) would restore funding to the prior year's level. I now know the number for this year.

ZERO.

SAIAT gets nothing to support workforce development in our community. The one REAL place that provided REAL workforce development for REAL employees. I had hoped TREO's hatred was directed at its prior director, that the new director would be given a chance. Certain elected officials have written letters of support. The company is trying to find other ways to survive. A guardian angel may descend, which is about what it will take.

In June 1991 Tucson had a town hall. In May 2007 Tucson had a town hall. Both declared education and workforce development as critical top priorities for economic development. Turn to page 13 of TREO's fancy blueprint: Create an employer-driven, demand-side workforce development initiative that identifies skill gaps and specific employer needs, then aligns necessary educational and training resources to fill those gaps.

Cloth.

Anyone interested in the reality of such words and such work should visit Chapter 15. They talk about it. I know a place that did it and provide solid examples.

In November 2004, Cigar Man told me the place had no chance. He spoke with conviction, "Craft an exit. Your grave has been dug."

I didn't believe him. All of that hard work and extraordinary effort. If the place survives, the new director is a genius. If it folds this year, do not blame her. I extend the words Cigar Man extended to me, "Take comfort in the fact that you never stood a chance."

I wonder if Snell will write a letter to Chuck Huckelberry declaring the SAIAT board approved the elimination of all funding.

If my speculation is correct, then we must ask ourselves why some would find it in their interest to discourage high wage, high tech jobs. Is it a threat to their political power base? Or is it something else?

BTW, I googled Col. DF's name and found some interesting letters to the editor. He truly lives up to the name you have given him.